Physical symptoms of anxiety--how can I convince myself I'm okay?

[Kat03]

Hi everyone.
I am having so many physical symptoms that I am sure are from my anxiety, yet it's hard to convince myself otherwise and I'm wondering how a person can convince themselves that they are okay and that nothing is wrong??
I recently had a flare up of my asthma and was put on prednisone, which I did have a lot of valid side effects from and ended up going off of because of them.  I was started on Advair after that, and now I have had a headache for almost a full week that has not gone away, dizziness, feeling like I'm "not here", fatigue, muscle aches, pains in my back, ribs, etc.  I KNOW that these pains are not the cause of anything serious...probably just a combination of how I sit at my desk, anxiety, muscle tension and overuse, etc.  My problem is that I am thinking of it constantly and can't get it out of my head.  I am working myself into panic attacks and a constant anxiety that something is really wrong.  I have not called my doctor and don't feel like it would be worth it to go in, since I am sure I'm just working myself up.
The other thing that does not help is that I work from home as a medical consultant, where I read hospital records and ER reports and so many of them are people coming in with chest pains, shortness of breath, stomach problems, etc. and when I read them, I panic, thinking that sounds like what is going on with me.  
How can I get past this other than reassuring myself constantly that nothing is wrong with me???  I am going crazy here and it's on my mind constantly.  I am doing a CBT program where I am keeping track of when I feel anxious, what causes it, etc. but even that doesn't seem to be working to convince myself that I am okay and I'm not going to die.  Oh, and this has been going on for almost 4 weeks now (ever since the asthma flare up and the new meds, which always make me very nervous and panicky just from the thought of having meds in my system).  
I do have Ativan to take if I need it, but hate to take it unless I absolutely need it, but I'm at the point where I'm thinking that maybe I should just take it before things get worse or before I have to go through yet another day where I feel like this all day.  The Ativan does help with anxiety, but makes me tired and kind of "spacey" (even at the 0.25 dose), and I have 2 young kids, I have to work from home, and I have training for a new job that I am doing and won't be able to focus on it if I take it.  I'm hoping there is some sort of non-medication technique I could try.

Thanks in advance, and sorry about the rambling.  

[Couch1]

Hi i get anxiety attacks often and im in highschool still was going to take the permit test today didnt cause they were closed but i started shaking and inside my chest felt like a bubble of fear was building up i was told closing my eyes snd thinking of what makes me happy helps but often i cant do that i wish i had the secrets to anxiety but i dont taking any advice

[Paxiled]

If anxiety is getting to you this much the place to go is therapy with a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of anxiety -- not all of them do.  Now, you should also consider, did this start recently?  When you say anxiety attacks, what exactly do you mean?  There's a difference between anxiety attacks, which are episodic, and anxiety that's around a lot of the time, meaning you're feeling it a lot and thinking anxious thoughts a lot.  The first thing to do is go back to when this first started happening to you and see if you can find something that might have occurred about then that might have upset you enough to bring this on.  It's also not a bad idea if you haven't had one recently to get a thorough check-up from your doctor.  There are things that can happen physiologically that can cause anxiety.  You're young, you're very adaptable and resilient, if you get help now you can fix this.  Also, don't believe this is necessarily something chronic.  You never know.  Sometimes at the place you're at in life, the combination of hormones and starting to make the adjustment from childhood to adulthood can be hard.  Good luck.

[Paxiled]

Also, the best way to use this site is to make a new post.  You're piggybacking here on a post that's 13 years old, so you might find more answers if you make your own new one.  Also, there are many ways to try to calm down other than the one you were taught.  There are ways of breathing that help.  There's a way of tightening and relaxing your muscles that helps.  Meditation helps a lot.  There's a whole lot of things out there to try.

[specialmom]

Hi couch1.  I think it is normal to feel extreme anxiety prior to a driver's test. Have you taken it yet?  How did it go? I agree with paxiled that there are many things that can help. Start your own post and we'll talk.  My son takes a beta blocker for things like situational anxiety.  But he also takes chronic medication for anxiety and depression.  It was warranted in his case and that is between you and a doctor.But psychotherapy, talk therapy really can help as well.  Tell us more and we will try to help.  

[nursegirl6572]

LOL..."frutiloop" is one of my favorite terms.

I think most people with anxiety are somewhere on the spectrum...either always assuming the worst (in terms of medical conditions)....or having a tendency to blame our symptoms on anxiety.  Definitely, the tendency to assume the worst is more common IMO.

Hey, anxiety causes some pretty severe physical symptoms, so it's only normal to think that way.

My being a nurse has never bothered me too too much anxiety-wise.....only when I have had some persistent symptoms.  Like now...I have had a headache going on like 10 days.  :0(  Have had a medical work-up, even went to an oral surgeon yesterday to get a back tooth pulled that I have needed to do, in case that is causing, or adding to the issue.

I'm open minded enough to realize that it could, indeed be anxiety/depression related, but honestly, I have been feeling better emotionally than I have been in a few months!

One thing for sure...is the last few days...I started with that "feeling disconnected" sensation...ya know the one?  Where you feel like you are watching a movie?  Nothing "looks" normal?  I don't know if it is as a result of feeling emotionally upset because I have felt physically awful for a while now, or if it is related to emotional issues.  UGH!  So very frustrating.

I just am praying for some kind of relief...I NEVER get headaches, and when i do, they are very easily controlled for me.  I'm getting quite sick of it.  Sick of feeling sick and tired.

[lynn57]

Glad you are here.  I am the opposite as some of you.  When I get syptoms that are sometimes physically the same as my anxiety, I assume panic attacks are on the way. I had colitis a couple of years ago and was blaming the dicomfort on a return of anxiety.  Thank God my doctor chose to check it out.  I was fixed in no time.  I recently have had a recurrence of my anxiety, but I never worry about it being something dangerous.  I worry about how long it will last.  When will I get the next full-blown panic attack.  How long and how many meds will it take to get it under control.  How hard will it be to give up klonopin. Does my new Dr. think I'm a froot loop.etc etc.

[Kat03]

That is the main problem with working with medical and having anxiety!!  I never realized it would be such a problem until I started actually working in the field.  During my schooling, it was no big deal, but then the other night I was sitting here with a headache that has lasted a week (which I was fairly certain was from a new asthma med, so no big deal at first), then I read a report about how someone has had a headache for a few days and it's something serious, that is when I FREAKED!!

Crazy how the mind works.  I woudn't say I'm a hypochondriac, but whatever body ache I have going on at that time...if I hear anything about a condition that relates or has similar possible symptoms, it's all over for me!

If only I had chosen to be a teacher or something....I might have to go back to my old profession if this keeps being a problem for me.  Sad, but I have been considering it lately since this has been so hard to control!

[worried826]

I dont know how some of you with anxiety can possibly work in the medical field. I would go crazy if i worked in the medical field as a nurse or doc.

As soon as I hear something like a symptom I start to think maybe i have it.

[suzi-q]

I know you were just "surfing through" but we invite you to stay!  You hit the nail on the head and have said it so eloquently.  Heck, you made me feel better and I wasn't even suffering with anxiety at this moment!  LOL.  Thanks for the input.

[nursegirl6572]

Hey, no shame in getting reassurance that there are so many others out there like us!  It makes one feel a bit more "normal" anyway...because anxiety has a nasty way of making us feel we are anything but.

I hope you get some relief soon.....

[Kat03]

Thank you everyone for your comments and advice.  I do know that this is mostly in my head, as the thoughts just will not stop racing through.  I know that medically I do have some issues, but nothing serious, and nothing that should be making me feel this way!  

Yep, I sure did pick a good profession to be in!  It is not good reading about brain aneurysms and heart problems when you have anxiety like I do!  

As I have mentioned before, I have dealt with the anxiety and panic attacks nearly my entire life, so it's nothing new to me, but it is only within the last few years that I have had the physical symptoms that go along with it and the constant worry over health issues.  

Part of the issue is being very isolated here and not having any outlet to escape.  My house used to be my "safe place" and it is now my worst enemy!  Thank goodness the weather is nice again and we can at least get out for walks and get some fresh air.  I am with my kids 24/7 and I honestly do not have any way to escape that as my husband works very long hours, we don't have any family nearby, and we are in a new area where I don't know many people.  

Yes, good excuses, I know, but that's how it is for now.  

Thanks for all the advice/encouragement.  Not that I'd wish this on anyone, but in a way I am glad that this is a very common thing and that so many people post on here about their issues with anxiety.  It really does help reading through some of the posts and being able to recognize what others are going through.

[nursegirl6572]

Thank you for the kind words...I'm glad they helped you to feel a bit better this morning.

As a whole, we DO need to be kinder to ourselves....we do a lot of beating ourselves up...believe me.....been there, done that too!

Anxiety disorders are life changing....and very hard to cope with at first, but it is astounding how far we come as well.  In our darkest moments, we could never imagine any sort of "sucess", but it happens.

I hope you are feeling better soon.  I would love to stick around, these sorta of groups are so helpful, user to user, one person to the next, helping each other through.

Thanks again....take care!

[nana902]

nursegirl:  I enjoyed this message to Kat so much!  You are a delight and I am so glad you are here.  What you wrote is what we need to hear! You are kind and compasionat and it really made ME feel better.  I know this "pep talk" was ment for her...but it really helped me this morning also.  I am weaning off Effexor and it has been a long hard road..I am doing it but there are many times that I have rough days.  This a.m. is one of them but you have helped me somewhat.  Thanks again...and please stick around for us.  Nana

[nursegirl6572]

Hi there.

First time for me to this forum...I came here for questions about a headache, and just started browsing around.

If anything, as a fellow panic/anxiety sufferer, as well as a NURSE (little knowledge can be a bad thing, lol) I can tell you is....ALL of the things you describe are PERFECTLY normal for a person with anxiety.  It's that "what if" thinking that drives us all nuts.  A therapist I had once described panic attacks perfectly for me...."they are like a fire alarm without the fire".  Certainly, when we begin to feel the anxious/panic feelings, which are very real and very PHYSICAL, we look for a logical reason behind them....because without that logical "trigger", we are left to think of horrible things it could be, and our brains are not kind to us in that regard.

I think a medical work-up may help to ease your mind, as well as (if you aren't already)...seek some counseling and maybe consider asking your doc about starting on an anti-depressant (again, if you haven't already).  The CBT therapy is great, continue writing your thoughts and feelings down.

Us "anxious" people are our own worst enemy.  We have these minds that seem to have a mind of their own.  What you are talking about (for those who may be new to this) are "intrusive thoughts", and basically, it is our mind creating the worst possible scenarios for us, as if to scare us.  Nice huh?  It's how we're wired.  Completely harmless.  JUST thoughts.

There IS recovery and coping, though...and if anything I can say to you, or anyone else, especially NEW to this...it would be...to remind yourself over and over and over that what you feel are simply EMOTIONS.  Big bad ones, sure.  But, that's it.  And as bad as the anxiety or panic may get, it will NOT hurt you physically.  That parasympathetic nervous system always kicks in eventually, getting us out of that state.

In the meantime, until you start coping better, I would try to take the Ativan when you need it.  If certain things seem to trigger the anxiety...anticipate that and take one BEFORE you get to that point.  There is NO harm in taking something sparingly when you need it to get through a tough time.  No need to make yourself struggle unnecessarily, IMO.

If you are worried about how you may react to the medication (drowsiness, etc)...take it when you are not going anywhere, and someone is with you (for the kids).  That low of a dose shouldn't give you too many troubles.  Honestly.  Ativan has been a life saver for me at many different points in my life.  I only took it when I needed it, but stopped making things so difficult for myself.  I always got to the point where just having it in my purse "just in case" was enough reassurance for me...and eventually I didn't need it at all, purse or otherwise.  Bottom line, I stopped being so hard on myself, thinking I needed to just "get through things" without the medication, and realized that when I was suffering, it was OK to take measures to make myself more comfortable.

I hope some of what I said helps you a bit....remember...ONLY emotions....and we are a complex and cantankerous bunch.  LOL  But, we are also a very NORMAL bunch.  And if you have ever looked at figures for anxiety disorders, you know we are a BIG bunch!  :0)

Best of luck....and hugs to all the "nervous ones" out there....

[barfer]

I think it is really tough for people who have GAD and work in the medical field.  You can bet that if I read all those reports, I'd think I had everything under the sun too. People like us are so open to even the suggestion that something could be wrong health-wise.  The way you feel right now is so typical of anxiety disorder and you know that, the problem is how do you overcome those feeling when you are constantly reminded of it everyday and therefore tend to dwell on it to the point where it makes matters worse and you have a panic attack.  The suggestions put forth by JSGeare are really excellent and if you think that they would help then consider doing them.

I have a problem with any form of feeling trapped.  That means that I don't go to the hairdresser or have a massage or go to a spa.  But the point I know he was making is do something that you know will make you feel good and take your mind off yourself.  For me, taking the dog for a really long walk, swimming, or working out can really help my anxiety.  Don't forget that at times when your anxiety is really bad, your diet is very important.  Reach for the fresh fruits and vegetables whenever you feel peckish. Don't eat too close to bed time as that disrupt your sleep.  Always go to bed thinking positive thoughts, so don't watch a horror movie or a depressing programme before retiring to bed.  Music is great therapy for me.  While you are working, maybe you could have some uplifting music playing in the background.  Work in a room that has a lot of natural light and if possible with an interesting view, I know that helps me.  I hope some of these suggestions help.  The last thing I will mention is the ativan, sometimes we all need a little additional help to get us through the rough times.  There is nothing wrong with taking it if you need it and don't abuse it.  Right now, if nothing else works then take it...that doesn't mean that you are going to have to every time.  You may be just going through a rough patch and won't have to take it again for a long time.  BUT if you do need something for a long period of time, then please recognize that and see your doctor for something that you can take on a regular basis that would be more appropriate for long term daily use.        

[brokenwings44]

I am so sorry that you are going through all this!!! I can relate because I can work myself into panic very easily just like you...I hear about someone being sick on tv...radio...at work and I immediately have all the symptoms. I have to tell you that distraction is the best thing and I totally understand that getting "it" all out of your head is not easy...i know.  The worst thing is that the more you "feel" the symptoms of anxiety and the more you worry about them the worse they get so you end up thinking that there is really something wrong with you...just like me. I have also felt many many symptoms that go away on their own and come back when i start thinking about them. The best advice that I can give you is to tell yourself and reassure yourself constantly that it is anxiety, like it sounds that you are already doing...the problem is that you aren't convinced and it takes practice and patience to "really" accept that that is all it is (when you're afraid don't fight the feeling) find something to do that can distract you...at least you won't continue to make the symptoms worse....it helps!
You're not alone!

[JSGeare]

Looking for the "Mother of all Pep Talks," then?

Maybe this is really a perception thing. On the one hand, you're trying to say you really don't have all those problems but then again, those problems are why you are here.

Well, matter of fact you DO have those problems. I don't care if the source is the asthma, food posioning, low iron in your blood or WHAT, you stll have the symptoms. In the final analysis, no matter what the original trigger was, it ALL comes from the head.

And look, if there WERE a medication that gave you comfort with minimal other effects, would you take it? I wouldn't rule it out. It may well be that some therapy either to deploy symptom management or to unearth any little gremlins in your emotional background may possibly be in order, as well.

But before any of that, why NOT have a consult with your doc, possibly to include a referral for some help on the psychological aspect. A nice massage might be a really wonderful idea. Change of scene and a focus on pampering yourself for some really good phsyical sensations, the "laying on of hands," the hot tub thing. -consider it. Got a girlfriend somewhere who'd enjoy a retreat of that kind? Or even a b/f or, heaven forbid, a spouse! This is pretty good -I think I'll book myself in somewhere!

What you wanted was some deflection, some other point of focus. Betcha if you set something up for week after next, you'll start thinking about THAT a lot more than that achy back thing.

Oh, and if you find yourself saying, "I just CAN'T right now..."

Then THAT's a big part of the problem.

Whaddya think?


And then, there's always the controlled breathing, the music -and green tea and heaven knows what else.